Wrigley Field was the site of NWSL history on Saturday via a match between the Chicago Red Stars and Bay FC
The Red Stars’ home match broke the NWSL single-game attendance record with 35,038 fans in attendance at the 110-year-old stadium, the team announced in the second half. The previous record was 34,130, held by the Seattle Reign in the final game of Megan Rapinoe’s career.
Although Wrigley Field normally seats 41,649, adjustments required to transform it into a football field have reduced that number in some stadiums. Even so, the stadium was quite crowded, even with the rain falling on the Chicago fans.
The match also attended to the little things. Maybelle Blair, pitcher for the Peoria Redwings of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, handed over the game ball. One person also noted that whoever maintains Wrigley Field’s iconic flags replaced MLB teams with NWSL classification.
In the clubhouse, Red Stars star Mallory Pugh was surprised with flowers in her closet from her husband, Chicago Cubs star Dansby Swanson.
Equipping Wrigley Field for football was no easy task. A time lapse shows a sizable field crew covering much of the infield and dirt territory with grass the day before:
Baseball field Football field
Here’s the time lapse of Wrigley Field getting ready for today’s historic game
( Cubs Productions) pic.twitter.com/wDCTCz1BOQ
– NWSL on ION (@IONNWSL) June 8, 2024
The Red Stars and Cubs have a connection through their ownership, as Red Stars owner Laura Ricketts is a member of the Ricketts family that has controlled the Cubs since 2009.
